Optical device

ABSTRACT

An optical device is provided. An optical device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a main body; a display unit which includes a polarization layer and which is disposed on one surface of the main body; and a camera module which is disposed in the main body and which overlaps the polarization layer in an optical axis direction, wherein a first region of the polarization layer overlapping the camera module in the optical axis direction blocks or reflects at least some incident light when the camera module is not operated.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Phase of PCT/KR2020/011212 filed onAug. 21, 2020, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to PatentApplication No. 10-2019-0106058 filed in the Republic of Korea on Aug.28, 2019, all of which are hereby expressly incorporated by referenceinto the present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an optical device.

BACKGROUND ART

The content described below provides background information on thepresent embodiment and does not describe the prior art.

As the spread of various portable terminals is widely generalized andwireless Internet services are commercialized, the demands of consumersrelated to portable terminals are also diversifying, so that varioustypes of additional devices are being installed in the portableterminals.

Among them, there is a camera module for photographing a subject as aphotograph or a moving picture. Meanwhile, as various types ofadditional devices are installed in recent camera modules, there is ademand for miniaturization of the camera module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Subject

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical devicecapable of reducing the size of a product.

Technical Solution

An optical device according to one aspect of the present invention forachieving the above object comprises: a main body; a display unit whichcomprises a polarization layer and which is disposed on one surface ofthe main body; and a camera module which is disposed in the main bodyand which is overlapped with the polarization layer in an optical axisdirection, wherein a first region of the polarization layer beingoverlapped with the camera module in the optical axis direction blocksor reflects at least a portion of an incident light when the cameramodule is not operating.

In addition, the first region may transmit the incident light when thecamera module is operating.

In addition, the display unit may comprise a reflective layer disposedon one side of the polarization layer, and at least a portion of thecamera module may be overlapped with the reflective layer in a directionperpendicular to the optical axis direction.

In addition, the camera module may comprise a control unit beingelectrically connected to the display unit.

In addition, the control unit may provide an OFF signal to the firstregion when the camera module is turned on, and may provide an ON signalto the first region when the camera module is turned off.

In addition, an OLED layer disposed on one side of the polarizationlayer is comprised, and the control unit may provide an OFF signal in aregion being overlapped with the first region and the camera module inthe optical axis direction among the OLED layer when the camera moduleis turned ON.

In addition, a phase delay layer disposed on one side of the OLED layermay be comprised, and at least a portion of the phase delay layer may beoverlapped with the first region and the camera module in the opticalaxis direction.

In addition, the camera module may be disposed adjacent to an endportion of the display unit.

An optical device according to an aspect of the present invention forachieving the above object comprises: a main body; a display unitcomprising a polarization layer comprising a first region and disposedon one surface of the main body; a camera module disposed on the mainbody and being overlapped with the first region in an optical axisdirection; and a control unit electrically connected to the display unitand the camera module, wherein the control unit provides an OFF signalto the first region when the camera module is turned on, and may providean ON signal to the first region when the camera module is turned OFF.

In addition, an OLED layer disposed on one side of the polarizationlayer is comprised, and the first region and the camera module may beoverlapped with the OLED layer in the optical axis direction.

In addition, when the camera module is turned ON, the control unit mayprovide an OFF signal to a region being overlapped with the cameramodule and the first region in the optical axis direction among the OLEDlayer.

In addition, a phase delay layer disposed on one side of the OLED layeris comprised, and the first region and the camera module may beoverlapped with the phase delay layer in the optical axis direction.

In addition, a reflective layer disposed on one side of the phase delaylayer is comprised, and at least a portion of the camera module may beoverlapped with the reflective layer in a direction perpendicular to theoptical axis direction.

Advantageous Effects

Through the present embodiment, an optical device capable of reducingthe size of a product can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical device according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an optical device according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a partial configuration of an opticaldevice according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating an optical path incident to acamera module of an optical device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

However, the technical idea of the present invention is not limited tosome embodiments to be described, but may be implemented in variousforms, and within the scope of the technical idea of the presentinvention, one or more of the constituent elements may be selectivelycombined or substituted between embodiments.

In addition, the terms (comprising technical and scientific terms) usedin the embodiments of the present invention, unless explicitly definedand described, can be interpreted as a meaning that can be generallyunderstood by a person skilled in the art, and commonly used terms suchas terms defined in the dictionary may be interpreted in considerationof the meaning of the context of the related technology.

In addition, terms used in the present specification are for describingembodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.

In the present specification, the singular form may comprise the pluralform unless specifically stated in the phrase, and when described as “atleast one (or more than one) of A and B and C”, it may comprise one ormore of all combinations that can be combined with A, B, and C.

In addition, in describing the components of the embodiment of thepresent invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) maybe used. These terms are merely intended to distinguish the componentsfrom other components, and the terms do not limit the nature, order orsequence of the components.

And, when a component is described as being ‘connected’, ‘coupled’ or‘interconnected’ to another component, the component is not onlydirectly connected, coupled or interconnected to the other component,but may also comprise cases of being ‘connected’, ‘coupled’, or‘interconnected’ due that another component between that othercomponents.

In addition, when described as being formed or arranged in “on (above)”or “below (under)” of each component, “on (above)” or “below (under)”means that it comprises not only the case where the two components aredirectly in contact with, but also the case where one or more othercomponents are formed or arranged between the two components. Inaddition, when expressed as “on (above)” or “below (under)”, the meaningof not only an upward direction but also a downward direction based onone component may be comprised.

An ‘optical axis direction’ used below is defined as an optical axisdirection of a camera module coupled to an optical device. Meanwhile,the ‘optical axis direction’ may correspond to a ‘vertical direction’, a‘z-axis direction’, and the like. Hereinafter, the present inventionwill be described in more detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical device according to anembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view ofan optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a partial configuration of an opticaldevice according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 4 and5 are diagrams illustrating an optical path incident to a camera moduleof an optical device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 , an optical device 10 according to anembodiment of the present invention may comprise a main body 11, adisplay unit 100, a camera module 200, and a control unit 300, but maybe implemented except for some of these configurations, and additionalconfigurations are not excluded.

The optical device 10 may be one among a hand phone, a mobile phone, asmart phone, a portable smart device, a digital camera, a laptopcomputer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), and a navigation device.However, the type of the optical device 10 is not limited thereto, andany device for photographing an image or a picture may be comprised inthe optical device 10.

The optical device 10 may comprise a main body 11. The main body 11 mayform the outer appearance of the optical device 10. The display unit 100may be disposed on one surface of the main body 11. The main body 11 maybe formed in a hexahedral shape. The main body 11 may comprise an uppersurface, a lower surface, and first to fourth side surfaces connectingthe upper surface and the lower surface. The camera module 200 and thecontrol unit 300 may be disposed in the inner space of the main body 11.

The optical device 10 may comprise a display unit 100. The display unit100 may be disposed on one surface of the main body 11. The display unit100 may be disposed on an upper surface of the main body 11. The displayunit 100 may be overlapped with the camera module 200 in an optical axisdirection. The display unit 100 may be electrically connected to thecontrol unit 300. The display unit 100 may receive a current and/or asignal from the control unit 300.

The display unit 100 may comprise a polarization layer 110. Thepolarization layer 110 may be a polarizing plate. The polarization layer110 may be disposed on the OLED layer 120. The polarization layer 110may reflect or block at least a portion of incident light incident fromthe outside. The polarization layer 110 may transmit at least a portionof incident light incident from the outside. At least a portion of thepolarization layer 110 may be overlapped with the camera module 200 inan optical axis direction. At least a portion of the polarization layer110 may be overlapped with the OLED layer 120, the phase delay layer130, and the reflective layer 140 in an optical axis direction.

The polarization layer 110 may comprise a first region 112. The firstregion 112 may be formed in a region being overlapped with the cameramodule 200 in an optical axis direction among the polarization layer110. The first region 112 may be electrically connected to the controlunit 300. The first region 112 may receive a current and/or a signalfrom the control unit 300. When the camera module 200 operates, thefirst region 112 may receive an OFF signal from the control unit 300 andtransmit at least a portion of incident light incident from the outsidetoward the camera module 200. When the camera module 200 is notoperating, the first region 112 may receive an ON signal from thecontrol unit 300 to reflect or block at least a portion of incidentlight incident from the outside. Through this, when the camera module200 operates, external light is incident on the camera module 200 toform an image, and when the camera module 200 is not operating, an imageis outputted from the display unit 100 toward the outside by blockingexternal light so that the user can see it. That is, since the area ofthe image outputted from the display unit 100 toward the outside can bewidened, the size of the product can be reduced.

The display unit 100 may comprise an OLED layer 120. The OLED layer 120may be a thin film light emitting diode (LED) made of a film of anorganic compound in which the light emitting layer emits light inresponse to an electric current. The OLED layer 120 may be disposedbelow the polarization layer 110. The OLED layer 120 may be disposed onthe phase delay layer 130. The OLED layer 120 may be overlapped with thepolarization layer 110 in an optical axis direction. The OLED layer 120may be formed to have a size corresponding to the polarization layer110. When the camera module 200 is turned ON, a region being overlappedwith the first region 112 of the OLED layer 120 and the camera module200 in an optical axis direction may be turned OFF by receiving a signalfrom the control unit 300. Through this, an external light may beincident to the camera module 200.

The display unit 100 may comprise a phase delay layer 130. The phasedelay layer 130 may be disposed below the OLED layer 120. The OLED layer120 may be disposed on the reflective layer 140. The phase delay layer130 may be overlapped with the OLED layer 120 and the camera module 200in an optical axis direction. The phase delay layer 130 may beoverlapped with the first region 112 in an optical axis direction. Whenthe camera module 200 is not operating, the first region 112 may beturned ON to reflect or block at least a portion of incident lightincident from the outside. In this case, the light passing through thepolarization layer 110 and the OLED layer 120 is reduced by the incidentlight, and proceeds to the camera module 200 with the phase shifted by45 degrees by the phase delay layer 130. This light is reflected fromthe camera module 200 again, and the phase is rotated by 45 degrees sothat a total of 90 degrees of polarization proceeds. The 90 degreepolarized light is blocked by the polarization layer 110 to prevent theuser from recognizing the external light reflection.

The display unit 100 may comprise a reflective layer 140. The reflectivelayer 140 may be a reflector. The reflective layer 140 may be disposedbelow the phase delay layer 130. The reflective layer 140 may not beoverlapped with the camera module 200 in an optical axis direction. Thereflective layer 140 may not be overlapped with the first region 112 inan optical axis direction. The reflective layer 140 may be overlappedwith the camera module 200 in a direction perpendicular to the opticalaxis direction. To this end, space efficiency can be enhanced.

The optical device 10 may comprise a camera module 200. The cameramodule 200 may comprise a lens and an image sensor. The camera module200 may be disposed in the main body 11. The camera module 200 may bedisposed below the display unit 100. The camera module 200 may beoverlapped with the first region 112 in an optical axis direction. Thecamera module 200 may be overlapped with the OLED layer 120 and thephase delay layer 130 in an optical axis direction. The camera module200 may not be overlapped with the reflective layer 140 in an opticalaxis direction. The camera module 200 may be overlapped with thereflective layer 140 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axisdirection. The upper region of the camera module 200 may be overlappedwith the reflective layer 140 in a direction perpendicular to theoptical axis direction. The camera module 200 may be electricallyconnected to the control unit 300.

The optical device 10 may comprise a control unit 300. The control unit300 may be disposed on the main body 11. The control unit 300 may beelectrically connected to the display unit 100 and the camera module200. The control unit 300 may provide a current and/or a control signalto the display unit 100 and the camera module 200.

The control unit 300 may provide an OFF signal to the camera module 200.In this case, the control unit 300 may provide an ON signal to the firstregion 112 and an ON signal to the OLED layer 120 to output an image inthe entire area of the OLED layer 120.

The control unit 300 may provide an ON signal to the camera module 200.In this case, the control unit 300 provides an OFF signal to a firstregion 112, and may provide an OFF signal to a region being overlappedwith the first region 112 and the camera module 200 in an optical axisdirection among the OLED layer 120. Through this, most of the lightincident from the outside is incident on the camera module 200 to obtainan external image.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been describedabove with reference to the accompanying drawings, those of ordinaryskill in the art to which the present invention belongs will understandthat the present invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof.Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described aboveare illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An optical device comprising: a main body;a display unit comprising a polarization layer and disposed on onesurface of the main body; and a camera module disposed on the main bodyand overlapped with the polarization layer in an optical axis direction,wherein a first region of the polarization layer overlapped with thecamera module in the optical axis direction blocks or reflects at leasta portion of an incident light when the camera module is not operating.2. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the first region transmits theincident light when the camera module is operating.
 3. The opticaldevice of claim 1, wherein the display unit comprises a reflective layerdisposed at one side of the polarization layer, and wherein at least aportion of the camera module is overlapped with the reflective layer ina direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.
 4. The opticaldevice of claim 1, comprising a control unit electrically connected tothe camera module and the display unit.
 5. The optical device of claim4, wherein the control unit provides an OFF signal to the first regionwhen the camera module is turned ON, and provides an ON signal to thefirst region when the camera module is turned OFF.
 6. The optical deviceof claim 4, comprising an OLED layer disposed at one side of thepolarization layer, wherein the control unit provides an OFF signal to aregion of the OLED layer overlapped with the first region and the cameramodule in the optical axis direction when the camera module is turnedON.
 7. The optical device of claim 6, comprising a phase delay layerdisposed at one side of the OLED layer, wherein at least a portion ofthe phase delay layer is overlapped with the first region and the cameramodule in the optical axis direction.
 8. The optical device of claim 1,wherein the camera module is disposed adjacent to an end portion of thedisplay unit.
 9. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the cameramodule is spaced apart from the display unit.
 10. The optical device ofclaim 3, wherein the display unit comprises an OLED layer and a phasedelay layer disposed between the polarization layer and the reflectivelayer, and wherein the OLED layer is disposed between the polarizationlayer and the phase delay layer.
 11. The optical device of claim 1,wherein, in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, awidth of the first region of the polarization layer is greater than awidth of the camera module.
 12. The optical device of claim 3, whereinthe first region of the polarization layer is not overlapped with thereflective layer in the optical axis direction.
 13. The optical deviceof claim 7, wherein a phase of a light proceeding to the camera moduleis shifted by 45 degrees by the phase delay layer when the camera moduleis turned OFF.
 14. The optical device of claim 13, wherein a phase of alight reflected from the camera module is shifted by 45 degrees by thephase delay layer when the camera module is turned OFF.
 15. An opticaldevice comprising: a main body; a display unit disposed on one surfaceof the main body and comprising a polarization layer comprising a firstregion; a camera module disposed on the main body and overlapped withthe first region in an optical axis direction; and a control unitelectrically connected to the display unit and the camera module,wherein the control unit provides an OFF signal to the first region whenthe camera module is turned on, and provides an ON signal to the firstregion when the camera module is turned OFF.
 16. The optical device ofclaim 15, comprising an OLED layer disposed at one side of thepolarization layer, wherein the first region and the camera module areoverlapped with the OLED layer in the optical axis direction.
 17. Theoptical device of claim 16, wherein the control unit provides an OFFsignal to a region of the OLED layer overlapped with the camera moduleand the first region in the optical axis direction when the cameramodule is turned ON.
 18. The optical device of claim 17, wherein thedisplay unit comprises a phase delay layer disposed at one side of theOLED layer, and wherein the first region and the camera module areoverlapped with the phase delay layer in the optical axis direction. 19.The optical device of claim 18, wherein the display unit comprises areflective layer disposed at one side of the phase delay layer, andwherein at least a portion of the camera module is overlapped with thereflective layer in a direction perpendicular to the optical axisdirection.
 20. An optical device comprising: a main body; a display unitdisposed on the main body and comprising a polarization layer and anOLED layer; and a camera module disposed on the main body, wherein eachof the polarization layer and the OLED layer comprises a first regionoverlapped with the camera module in the optical axis direction,wherein, when the camera module is not operating, the first region ofthe polarization layer is configured to block or reflect at least aportion of an incident light and the first region of the OLED layer isturned ON, and wherein, when the camera module is operating, the firstregion of the polarization layer is configured to transmit the incidentlight and the first region of the OLED layer is turned OFF.